~Leaving Ravenwood~

[Valerie]

“Why am I friends with you again?” Sarah asked, huffing. I hitched my backpack on my shoulder and shot her a confused look, but then again she could be upset about anything so I was not worried. 

“Because no one else will tolerate your drama,” Kenneth quipped, used to her dramatics like I was and slung his arm around her. She didn’t swat it away. I bit back a smile. I said, “Thanks, Ken. You are the bestest friend I could have asked for.” Like the script of a play, Sarah glared at me and then at her mate. “I hate you both, ganging up on me ever since we were 6.” 

Kenneth snorted. “No, you bullied us, sweetheart. We are just returning the favour now.” 

She stopped walking and so did we. Here we go. Folding her arms, she stared at us like we had said something incredibly bizarre and offending. “I…I bullied both of you? Ridiculous.” She scoffed. Kenneth and I exchanged a glance, a silent conversation happened and then he held up his hands placatingly because if this went on we would never get to know why this fickle-minded girl got mad in the first place. “Okay..okay, you didn’t. We misunderstood.”  Well, it was kind of true. She had been trying to make friends with us ever since their family relocated to Ravenwood and we, being the two introverts, always tried to avoid her. However, she forced her way in, carving a permanent place for herself in our hearts. 

“Oh really?” I heard her grouse. He hummed in agreement and went on to encircle his arms around her petite frame and even though she pretended to protest, it was just for the show. I smiled at the couple. A phantom ache made itself known in my heart, I pushed it away. 

“Now, why are you mad at me?” I said loudly before these two could become gross. Sarah let go of her mate and pinched my arm. I yelped. “What? What was that for?” She flipped back her auburn hair and replied. “I heard you will be shifting to Crescentville to study there?” Kenneth raised his eyebrows. He looked at his mate and then back to me. I bit my lip, slightly taken aback that she heard this so soon. 

“Let’s go to my room and talk, yeah?” Neither of them looked pleased about the suggestion. As we walked to the Ravenwood castle, I mentally prepared the excuse that I had prepared. They didn’t need to know the actual reason or reasons. 

Staying on campus and with your family might be advantageous and a good thing for many, but for me, it was anything but. Eager freshmen, grouchy juniors and tired and just ‘two seconds away from giving up’ seniors dotted the campus. Today was the last day of the first semester and I was planning to start my next semester in Crescentville.

The castle has been renovated and has apparently also become a huge attraction for students from Supernatural backgrounds, thanks to my parents. Naturally, my father had now stepped down from being the Dean of the Ravenwood University, my elder uncle, Tristan taking up the mantle with his mate, aunt Ava. Now he was the Alpha King and mom still reigns as the Queen of Mage.  

~~~~~

"Classes over?" Arnold, dad's beta and aunt Mathilda's mate asked as we entered the Castle while he was coming down the steps. "Yeah, only today. Prof. Lilly isn't up for teaching today," Sarah chirped, obliviously the only person happy among us for classes being cancelled. 

"Where's Naomi? Didn't see her in the class today," I said. Arnold looked slightly abashed and I immediately understood why. Naomi, being an omega went through frequent Heats, more so than an Alpha and a Beta wolf. At least she had a wolf, I thought glumly. 

"I get it," I added. He shot a small smile before leaving. 

~~~~~

We took the stairs to the East Wing. Our family lived here while uncle Tristan and aunt Ava lived back in the house with my grandparents. I hated living here personally. This place felt impersonal and there was a lack of privacy.

As usual, no one was present at this time. We went to my room, which was at the end of the corridor. Sarah plopped on the bean bag while Kenneth got cosy on the sofa. “I love how you have so much independence.” She stretched languidly like a cat. 

I shot Sarah a flat look. However, the comment stung. It’s not like I didn’t like my freedom but sometimes, I wanted to feel like a part of the family. 

“Sarah,” Kenneth warned. She looked at me sheepishly, having received the message. “Sorry,” she mumbled with enough guilt lacing her tone. “My mouth has no control.” I answered back with a tight smile.  

“Anyway, tell us why you are abandoning us?” She scowled. Kenneth was giving me the look that said that he would talk to me about this later. I averted my gaze not wanting to give away the secret that my heart has guarded for the past 5 years. 

“I…wanted to go to Crescentville from the beginning. Remember Elias? The man who had visited us when we were in high school? He has come back from his travels and is willing to become my mentor. But dad said I should at least give our University a try. I did but I want to be training under Elias, so…” I shrugged as if that explained things. 

Kenneth frowned. “He can practically teleport here. Why not stay here and learn. We have everything that is needed.” I bit back a retort. I felt annoyed at how he could see right through my lies. 

“Well, I can’t expect him to come here to teach me, can I? Also there uncle Drake and Grey, so I will surely be able to get more insight and help there. Plus, I never wanted to study here in the first place.” 

Lies. And I knew Ken knew this because his scowl deepened. I looked away, deciding to look at my other best friend who was looking somewhat sad. I sighed. “C’mon guys. It’s not like I am going away forever. I will be back during term breaks.” Sarah harrumphed and folded her arms. “It’s not the same. Our Uni has more amenities than that Crescentville. Your mother came to study here, remember?” she pointed out the obvious. 

I always heard this story and had to tolerate the coos and gushes that I had to hear about how my parents had a perfect love story. I scoffed. “And so? I am not going to Crescentville because I need to find my mate. My mom didn’t even know she was a mage when she was my age.” 

“I hate it when you are right,” she grumbled. I looked at Ken, who was staring at the floor, thoughtful. I gulped and tried to not pacify him like I used to when I chose or did something he didn’t like. But that was when he was unmated, the time when I thought we were…

I plopped down on the bed and let the two brood for a while. Then, as expected, Sarah, who could never remain silent for more than 5 minutes, said, “So when are you leaving?” 

“Tomorrow.” I didn’t dare look at either of them, but I could imagine Ken’s hazelnut eyes wide with shock and Sarah’s mercurial ones narrowed at me. “You….you are leaving for I don’t know... three freaking years or more and you decide to tell us now? No wait, you didn’t even tell us in the first place, I…got this news from my mother who heard this from Lana.” 

“Mom knew?” Ken asked bemusedly. I fidgeted with the hem of my purple hoodie and even though I felt annoyed at the way Sarah was talking I couldn’t refute it completely. I knew how much our friendship meant to her. I knew how much she was hurt and when she is hurt, she tends to get angry and defensive. Ken, on the other hand, becomes even quieter. Hah, they complement each other so well. No wonder…I suppressed another wave of heartache and forced myself to emerge from the well of pity and instead focused on pacifying my friends. 

“Brownie~,” I used the nickname that annoyed her the most because her wolf’s colour was brown, and moved over to where she was sitting and crouched before hugging her from the side. She didn’t budge and that was not good. She continued pouting and I could tell this was not for show. I suddenly felt shame engulf my heart. I hugged her tighter. “I really wanted to tell both of you. But…I knew how you both would react, so…” It was a very flimsy excuse. I quickly peered at Ken who refused to even look at me and that increased my guilt tenfold. 

“It’s not like we would stop you, you know,” Ken finally uttered with anger in his tone and eyes, then abruptly stood up. He gave me a look that conveyed hurt and anger simultaneously and stormed out of the room. Sarah’s gaze trailed her mate’s exit anxiously. She lingered for a while, clearly in a dilemma. I let go of her. “Go.” She didn’t need to be told twice. 

“We are not done talking,” she said curtly without turning and then she, too, was gone. 

I blew out a breath, my heart clenched as I furiously blinked back the tears. Why…why did I always disappoint and hurt people when I tried my damn best to not do so? Why?